A murder investigation is under way to find the killers of an man who was reportedly hanged outside a house in Oxford.

Paramedics were called to Clive Road, in Cowley, on Sunday after a 999 call saying a man had been strung up at the semi-detached property.

When they arrived, a 34-year-old Asian man was found unconscious in the drive.

He was declared dead shortly after arriving at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington.

Police later arrested two men, aged 30 and 35, in connection with the death. One lives at the house, while the other was a visitor. Last night, they were still in custody.

Oxford police commander Supt Andy Murray said the man’s death was not as a result of a vigilante attack and described it as an “isolated incident”.

He said: “This is a very rare occurrence in Oxford and I really want to get to the bottom of what happened at 24 Clive Road.”

A team of 20 police officers is working on the case. Forensic officers searched the house yesterday.

Mr Murray refused to say whether a ligature had been found. He said detectives thought they knew the name of the victim, but the man could not be formally identified until they had contacted relatives.

Mr Murray added: “At about 9.20pm on Sunday evening, the ambulance control room received a call that a man was hanging outside 24 Clive Road, Cowley.

“They attended and found a 34-year-old Asian man unconscious on the driveway. They did what they could and tried to revive him, but unfortunately the man was declared dead at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

“Initial reports suggested the man had committed suicide, but various inconsistencies emerged and that led officers to believe the man had died in suspicious circumstances.”

Mr Murray said the house at the centre of the inquiry was a five-bedroom multi-occupancy home, which he believed was rented.

Michelle Ullett, a spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service, said: “Paramedics were called to an incident in Clive Road, Cowley, at 9.18pm.

“Two ambulance crews and an ambulance officer on scene treated a male in his 30s, who was found to be in a life-threatening condition. He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital for further assessment and treatment to his injuries.”

Residents in the area said they were shocked by the man’s death.

A 51-year-old man from Clive Road, who asked not to be named, said: “I’m shocked. We didn’t hear any screams.

“There was a transient population in the house, with people coming and going every few months, so I don’t know who lived there.”

Anyone with information about the incident should call Oxford CID on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk